The details that emerged yesterday of Belfast and Stormont’s special treatment for an IRA leader’s funeral got even worse

Then, a few hours, it issued a statement: “The NI executive set out guidance to permit 30 people to gather outside, which permitted us to offer this as an option for mourners. All cremations held on Tuesday complied with the guidance set out by the executive.”

The clear implication of that is that everyone was allowed 30 people, and mourners were treated the same. Yet Stephen Nolan yesterday on the BBC revealed that people were not treated equally last Tuesday and Mr Storey’s funeral was the only one in which 30 mourners were allowed on to the site. An undertaker today in the News Letter confirms that.

Why did the council issue this misleading statement? Why did it give special treatment to a terrorist in the first place?

Belfast’s apology yesterday was welcome but its error was not merely one in hindsight. The decision to give a paramilitary godfather special treatment was a calculated one. Who knew about it? What are the consequences? What is being done to ensure terrorists never again get such treatment?

Today we also report that the law on funeral guidelines was changed by Stormont within 48 hours of the flagrant Sinn Fein social distancing funeral breach. That this was not publicised, so people could avail of it, heightens a sense that it was a retrospective attempt to cover republican blushes.

Yet MLAs yesterday merely considered a predictably weak motion about this disgraceful, multi layered saga to give Storey special treatment. It also flags up a nagging public concern that his like have had special treatment while alive. Why do military veterans face trials and not IRA leaders?

As the ex MP Kate Hoey writes opposite, we are all used to Jim Allister being almost a lone voice at Stormont against the endless concessions to republicans. Will others step up?

And as Axel Schmidt writes today on P11, we need clarity more than ever from London that there will be no fudging of the pension guidelines to placate terrorists. Also that London is continuing its retreat from terrorist demands on legacy.

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